secretary of state hillary clinton will be there and might announ announce if the u.s. will be a representative of syrians. as damascus is pounded by president bashar al assad's forces, they are voicing their hopes for a better future. arwa damon has the story. >> reporter: to the tune of "jingle bells," a tune in aleppo with original lyrics. hand in hand, we are all hand in hand, they sing, until we get rid of bashar. the bulk of the car here, pro-democracy. but also some carrying black flags. let's agree that each has a right to their perspective. later the islamists take up their own chant. the people want an islamic state. when we sing we want an islamic state, it means that every citizen will have their rights. but according to their own interpretation. one of the islamists says that i should cover my hair. 25-year-old hussein says the islamists are being nurtured by outside forces. but he's not worried they will take over the country. syria is beautiful, a nation of many colors, whether they like it or not. what we just witnessed s a microcosm of a larger dynamic